 Traveler’s Guide |
 Interactive Map |
 Recreation |
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 Mosaic |
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Friends of A1A
2175 Mizell Rd.
St. Augustine, FL 32080
904-425-8055
RecreationA1A provides ample and varied opportunities for recreation throughout the 72 miles of its path in St. Johns and Flagler counties. Whether you are interested in a day of biking, fishing, golfing, boating, surfing, bird watching, diving or snorkeling, the Byway is rich with opportunity. Click the sections below to view detiails.
Annual Events and Accommodations
 Florida celebrates year round with annual festivals and special events for the whole family. Accommodation in both counties include hotels, motels, historic bed & breakfasts. Vacation rentals and campgrounds.For up to the minute lists of area events and accommodations in St. Johns County, visit www.floridashistoriccoast.com For information on events and accommodations in Flagler County, click on www.visitflagler.org St. Johns County Annual Events ALL YEAR
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
Flagler County Annual Events ALL YEAR
JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY
AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
Biking The Scenic and Historical Trail Most of the A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Highway is bicycle friendly, and follows the same path as the vehicle Traveler’s Guide, with paved paths along most of the route. For additional information on biking along the Byway and throughout Florida, visit www.floridabicycle.org/fbtc. Last year’s biking event, Spoonbills & Sprockets, attracted 88 riders, who could travel from Marineland south through Flagler County along the coast and then travel north to the St. Augustine Beach Pier and return.
Bikers can choose from a 100K, 35-mile or 20-mile route along the Byway and take in the sights of Gamble Rogers State Park, Varn Park, Marineland and the St. Augustine Pier. Or they can create their own route and travel the biking trails in the county and state parks, stop to visit the historical sites, browse through the more than 100 art venues along the Byway or stop to dine at the many excellent restaurants – many of which are very casual and those wearing biking clothes are welcome. To assist riders, the Friends of A1A has produced six short videos about biking along the Byway made possible with financial assistance from VISIT FLORIDA. Production assistance is credited to CycleHereMedia, VELOFEST, and Friends of A1A volunteers and fellow cycling enthusiasts. We invite you to view them at: http://www.youtube.com/user/FriendsofA1A?view_as=public
Birding In addition to the nationally recognized Florida Birding Festival, held every spring in the small town of Marineland (population 12), the area lies squarely within some of the prime locations of the Florida Birding Trail. The Great Florida Birding Trail (GFBT) is a program of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. At its core is a network of nearly 500 sites throughout Florida selected for their excellent birdwatching or bird education opportunities. From the Guana Tolomato Reserve to Fort Matanzas National Monument, some of the most celebrated sightings happen on the northeast coast of Florida. For complete information on Birding in Florida, visit www.floridabirdingtrail.comFor information on the Florida Birding festival, visit floridasbirdingandphotofest.com Boating
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Boating is a popular pastime on both sides of the Byway. For a complete 
A1A Cell Tour Rack Card.pdf
| A1A Byway North Gateway – 101 Download Bird Island Park – 102 Download Cultural Center of Ponte Vedra – 103 Download Ponte Vedra Concert Hall – 104 Download GTM Reserve – 125 Download Mickler Beach Access – 107 Download Nease Beachfront Park – 150 Download Surfside Park – 151 Download Vilano Beach Pavilion – 152 Download Vilano Beach Pier & Boardwalk – 154 Download Vilano Boat Ramp – 155 Download Davenport Park – 200 Download Visitor Center & Huguenot Cemetery – 201 Download St. Augustine Art Association - 202 Download NEW Castillo de San Marcos – 204 Download |
Bridge of Lions – 205 Download St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum – 206 Download St. Augustine Alligator Farm – 207 Download St. Augustine Amphitheatre – 208 Download Anastasia State Park – 300 Download Ron Parker Park – 301 Download Pope Road Scenic Overlook – 302 Download Pier Park and Splash Park – 303 Download Windswept Acres Park – 325 Download Butler Beach Park E/W – 326 Download Crescent Beach Park – 327 Download Fort Matanzas – 328 Download Matanzas Inlet – 329 Download Summer Haven – 330 Download |
New - Environmental Education Tour in Bird Island Park !
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Since the launch of the new Mobile Audio Tour at Bird Island Park, educational experiences are just a button and skip away. Families can dial in, stream or download the new Bird Island Park Mobile Audio Tour. Just bring a cell phone, smartphone, ipod or a tablet -- and within seconds you’ll experience the song of the Northern Mockingbird, listen to the legend of the invasive Wild Hog, and hear the menacing rattle of the diamondback rattlesnake -WHILE IN THE PARK. As you progress through the park’s tour sites, you can activate the specific tour message for each stop and discover interesting facts and exciting stories on more than 10 species and habitats native to North Florida. You may have a sneak peak while you are visiting our website - but we cannot offer nature's alluring mixture of sounds and smells. Get outdoors and go the the park! Listening to the Bird Island Park Mobile tour is free and easy. Visit Bird Island Park in Ponte Vedra, FL. Use the map on the reverse side of the rack card (coming soon) to navigate the mobile audio tour in the park. There are 2 other ways to access the audio tour: 1) Call the Tour Dial (904) 596-0029 from your mobile phone. (Calling the tour uses mobile plan minutes.) 2) Connect to http:/myoncell.mobi/19045960029 and download the tour (Free Download. DOES NOT use mobile plan minutes.) | |
| Welcome and Introduction – 500 Download Upland Hammock and Northern Mockingbird - 501 Download Wild Hog - 502 Download Deer -503 Download Horned Owl - 504 Download Coastal Dune - 505 Download Gopher Tortoise - 506 Download Brown Pelican and Least Tern - 507 Download Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake - 508 Download Sea Turtles and Loggerheads - 509 Download Freshwater Marsh - 510 Download North American Otter - 511 Download Ruby Throated Hummingbird - 512 Download Butterflies - 513 Download Dragon Fly - 514 Download American Alligator - 515 Download Thank you for visiting - 516 Download |
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In Flagler County, relax on the quiet side of Florida
| Whitney Laboratory – 350 Download Marineland – 351 Download River to Sea Preserve Park – 352 Download Washington Oaks State Gardens – 400 Download Mala Compra Road Park – 401 Download Bings Landing – 402 Download Old Salt Road Park – 403 Download Jungle Hut Road Park – 404 Download |
Varn Park – 405 Download Silver Lake Park – 426 Download Beverly Beach – 425 Download Betty Steflik Memorial Preserve – 450 Download Flagler Beach Historical Museum – 451 Download Veterans Park & Flagler Beach Pier – 452 Download Gamble Rogers State Recreational Area – 453 Download |
Diving off the Coast
The ocean floor of Northeast Florida is littered with myriad ships, fighter planes, concrete culverts, bridges, an entire dry dock, even the press boxes from a football stadium. At one time or another, anything that might attract fish has been dragged, dropped or blown to the sandy bottom. The result: hundreds of artificial reef sites, each one a sweet spot crowded with swarms of silversides, packs of pelagic hunters like amberjack and cobia, and some truly big snapper, grouper, flounder and Atlantic spadefish. The place is silly with lobster, too.For more information, visit: www.coralreeftravel.com/usa-dive-guide/northeast-florida-dive-guide/
Fishing: An Anglers Dream
Saltwater Fishing Includes:
| Inshore-ICW, Tidal Creeks and Flats Red Drum Black Drum Flounder Snook Tarpon Spotted Sea Trout Whiting* Spot* Croaker* Sheepshead Mangrove Snapper Blue Fish Jack Cravelle Cat Fish (Several Varieties) |
Nearshore and Surf Red Drum Black Drum Flounder Tarpon Whiting Spot Croaker Cobia Spanish Mackeral King Mackeral Florida Pompano Mangrove Snapper Blue Fish Jack Cravelle Cat Fish (Several Varieties) Shark (Several Varieties) Triple Tail |
Offshore Blue Marlin Sailfish Swordfish White Marlin Tuna Grouper Amberjack Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) Cobia Spanish Mackeral King Mackeral Amberjacks Grouper** Snapper** Shark (Several Varieties) Triple Tail Black Sea Bass** |
*Occasional, **See Regulations at www.myfwc.com here |
Freshwater Fishing Includes:
| Black Crappie Blue Tilapia Bluegill Butterfly Peacock Bass Largemouth Bass Redbreast Sunfish | Redear Sunfish Spotted Sunfish Striped Bass Sunshine Bass Warmouth White Bass |
Prior to saltwater fishing, click here, or visit www.myfwc.com for fishing and tide information
For freshwater fishing rules and tips, click here, or visit www.takemefishing.org for fishing and tide information.
For more information about sport fishing in Flagler County, visit www.fcsportfishing.com
Please note: Friends of A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway, Inc. has no affiliation with the recommended sites, and accepts no responsibility for their accuracy.
Surfing the Northeast Florida Coast
North Florida and the stretch known as the A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway may be the most underrated surf region in the Southeastern U.S. It doesn't have any of the Sunshine State's big-name spots, such as Sebastian Inlet, Spanish House and Reef Road, and, looking through old surf magazines, you won't find a lot of shots of hometown heroes in their natural surroundings. But this maligned stretch of beach can get as good as anywhere in the Southeast: maybe better.
North Florida can claim to have a truly diverse coastal community: several, actually. A string of resort towns, including St. Augustine and Flagler Beach, plus inland traffic from nearby cities and colleges, produces a mix of influences unmatched around the state, as a trip down A1A will clearly show.
For seasonal surf and other information, visit www.surfline.com/travel/index.cfm?id=2153
Golfing
Come visit Florida’s A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway and see why it is referred to as "golf's ultimate destination." Home to the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, it offers golf enthusiasts the chance to reminisce about the exploits of such golf legends as Gene Sarazen, Sam "The Slammer" Sneed, Arnold Palmer, and Jack Nicklaus. The byway is practically surrounded by world-class golf courses, some of which were personally designed by old pros. When you come to the A1A, enjoy golf the way it was meant to be played: against the backdrop of sun-filled beaches and historic sites.
Start your golf tour of the A1A with a trip to the famous World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine. Plan to spend at least three hours in the museum, which features an IMAX theater and an 18-hole natural grass putting course. Enjoy the feeling of a hickory-shafted putter in your hands as you try out their 1880s-style putting green. The museum always has a new featured exhibit, whether it focuses on women's professional golf or the legendary "golden champion" Jack Nicklaus.
Golfer on the Green (FL) [2]
Further south along the Flagler A1A Corridor there are challenging courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Rees Jones, and Gary Player. Ocean Hammock Resort Golf Club at Palm Coast, called the "Pebble Beach of the East" by Links Magazine. No golf trip to the A1A would be complete without teeing off along the beautiful eastern coast of Florida. Courses like the Ocean Palm Golf Course at Flagler Beach offer unique glimpses into the natural world with their profound estuarine and ocean vistas.Golf lovers will also find the PGA Tour’s national headquarters along the A1A in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Plan a visit in early May to watch one of the tour’s most famous golf events, the Tournament Player’s Championship. Famous golf pros like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will be there vying for the largest purse of any golf tournament.
The A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway is the perfect weekend getaway for travelers seeking a unique golf experience. As home of the World Golf Hall of Fame, Player's Championship, and PGA Tour's headquarters, this byway can certainly provide you with a unique and memorable experience. Don't forget to try out the many professional-level courses in the area. So, come to Florida's A1A, and see what all the fuss is about.
National Headquarters of the Tournament Player Club (Golf) (FL) [3]
Friends of A1A hosts semi-annual golf tournaments to highlight recreational assets along the A1A corridor. All are encouraged to play-a-day and stay-a-day on A1A.
Florida's Historic Coast boasts of many fine golf venues visitors may wish to explore. Come play with Friends of A1A when the time is right!
Fall A1A Golf Cup Classic 2010 - Royal ST. Augustine Golf Club
Fall A1A Golf Cup Classic 2011 - Palm Harbor Golf Club
Spring A1A Golf Cup Classic 2012 - Palm Harbor Golf Club
Fall A1A Golf Cup Classic 2012 - Royal St. Augustine Golf Club
